Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08
LoGAN's ROMANCE.
Tow, He Met. Courted and Married MIsd
Mary Cunningham.

Toledo Bladel
General Logau's marriage was quite ro-
mantle, and the story is not generally
known. Mrs Logan's father was Captain
Cunningham, descended from an Irish
family, and Southerner by birth aud ed
ucation. He was born in Liucoln. Tenn,
but was reared in Alabama, and when OF
age removed TO Illinois. He brought some
slaves with him, but, although slavery
was still allowed in the Territory, he de-
cided to liberate them, and did so. From
Illinois he migrated to Missouri, and en-
tered the employ of George p. Dor
ris, at that time q great
overland merchant, with headquar-
ters 10 ST. Louis. While in Petersburg,
Boone County, he met and married a lady
OF French descent, Miss Fouataine, and il
was on Missouri soil that their first child,
Mary, was born. She was but year old
when the Captain returned to Illinois on
account Of his fathers failing health and
settled in Williamson County. When tho
Mexican war broke out her father, who
had served in the Blackhawk war when a
boy, received commission as Captain OF
& company OF the First Illinois volunteers,
and went to the front. In another COM
pany of the same regiment there
happened TO be young Lieutenant
by the name Of John A. Logan, who had
enlisted from jackson County. His father
had served in the same legislature with
that Captain, and naturally strong
friendship sprang up between the two; in
fact, the marriage which afterward took
place between the Lieutenant and the
Captains eldest daughter was arranged
during this campaign, since the Captain
about this time received from the latter,
still mere child, the first letter she had
ever written, and showing it TO the
Lieutenant, laughngly told him ''he might
have her"
After the war the Captain caught the
gold fever, and was one of the forty
miners who emgrated to the Pacific coast.
Upon his return Pierce had been
installed as President, and the
Captain received the appoint
ment of land register at Shawncetown,
III. In the meantime young Logan had
been making good progress at the bar,
and the Captains eldest d3u ghter had been
acquiring an education at the female con-
vent school of Vinccnt's Academy, Nor
garfield, KY, where she passed three
years. At that time it was one of the few
academies for young ladies in the West,
and branch of the famous institution at
Nazareth, KY She graduated in July,
1855, and on her return entered her
fathers Office and Gctcd as his secretary,
this being her first experience in public
affairs.
At this time General Logan was pros.
ecujing attorney of the district AMI
lived IN Benton, Franklin County.
1t was on going over TO Shawnee
town to attend court that he had
the pleasure of meeting Miss Cum
nngham for The FIRST time He told her
that he had called for the purpose Of
claiming the fulfiliment Of her fathers
promise, and pro5pcred so well in his
courtship that ia the following November
they were married, she a young girl of
seventeen and he a rising lawyer of thirty.
Logan was a: that time prosecuting at
torney or the district, ana in those days
the circuit was conHoScl of sixteen
counties. He resided at Benton and there
the young couple began their married life.
His rise was rapid and brilliant, and in
1853, after distinguished service in tho
Legislature, nc was elected TO Congress
as Douglas Democrat Mrs Logan has
often describe | the famous campaign dur
ing which stephen A. Douglas spoke OF
Bentcn and was entertained at General
LOgan'S house